As I was beginning to write this article I was looking many newspaper headlines from the days following the attack. The information was different from paper to paper. Unlike today as we huddle around our TV’s waiting to see images and get minute to minute updates on a situation, they had to solely rely on the information over the radio, letting their imaginations run wild with the images. I think about how the families with loved ones stationed there must have felt after hearing the news.

Listen to this real radio broadcast from December 7, 1941:

“December, 7 1941, A Date which will live in Infamy… No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the american people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory.” -President Franklin D. Roosevelt

Take time today to remember all of the lives lost on this devastating day in American History.

The time has come for Santa’s scout elves to leave the North Pole and make their way to homes around the world. We are so excited to have Dash and Clementine with us again here at Hatcher Orthodontics for the holiday season!

For any who do not know the story, the “scout elves” hide in people’s homes to watch over events. Once everyone goes to bed, the scout elf flies back to the North Pole to report to Santa the activities, good and bad, that have taken place throughout the day. Before the family wakes up each morning, the scout elf flies back from the North Pole and hides. By hiding in a new spot each morning around the house, the scout elf and the family play an on-going game of hide and seek.

The Elf on the Shelf explains that scout elves get their magic by being named. In the back of each book, families have an opportunity to write their elf’s name and the date that they adopted it. Once the elf is named, the scout elf receives its special Christmas magic, which allows it to fly to and from the North Pole.

The book tells how the magic might disappear if the scout elf is touched, so the rule for The Elf on the Shelf states, “There’s only one rule that you have to follow, so I will come back and be here tomorrow: Please do not touch me. My magic might go, and Santa won’t hear all I’ve seen or I know.” Although families are told not to touch their scout elf, they can talk to it and tell it all their Christmas wishes so that it can report back to Santa accurately.

The story ends on Christmas Day with the elf leaving to stay with Santa for the rest of the year until the following Christmas season.

Approximately 42 million Americans still smoke cigarettes, and tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States. Smoking and other tobacco products can also lead to gum disease by affecting the attachment of bone and soft tissue to your teeth. Gum disease or Gingivitis, is a leading cause of tooth loss. Use of tobacco products can also lead to these irritating and serious conditions:

Bad Breath

Tooth Discoloration

Inflammation of the salivary gland openings on the roof of the mouth

Increased buildup of plaque and tartar on the teeth

Increased loss of bone within the jaw

Increased risk of leukoplakia, white patches inside the mouth

Increased risk of developing oral cancer

Like cigars and cigarettes, smokeless tobacco products (for example, snuff and chewing tobacco) contain at least 28 chemicals that have been shown to increase the risk of oral cancer and cancer of the throat and esophagus. In fact, chewing tobacco contains higher levels of nicotine than cigarettes. One can of snuff delivers more nicotine than over 60 cigarettes.

Smokeless tobacco can irritate your gum tissue, causing it to recede or pull away from your teeth. Once the gum tissue recedes, your teeth roots become exposed, creating an increased risk of tooth decay. Exposed roots are also more sensitive to hot and cold or other irritants, making eating and drinking uncomfortable.

Visit www.cancer.org to learn more about quitting smoking, improving your health, or getting involved with the Great American Smokeout in your community. Or just call your American Cancer Society anytime at 1-800-227-2345.

]]>https://hatcherorthodontics.wordpress.com/2015/11/19/614/feed/0American SmokeouthatcherorthodonticsAmerican Smokeouthttps://hatcherorthodontics.wordpress.com/2015/09/29/610/
https://hatcherorthodontics.wordpress.com/2015/09/29/610/#respondTue, 29 Sep 2015 12:56:00 +0000http://hatcherorthodontics.wordpress.com/?p=610]]>]]>https://hatcherorthodontics.wordpress.com/2015/09/29/610/feed/0hatcherorthodonticsFall 2015Smile, it’s Good for Your Healthhttps://hatcherorthodontics.wordpress.com/2015/08/20/smile-its-good-for-your-health/
https://hatcherorthodontics.wordpress.com/2015/08/20/smile-its-good-for-your-health/#respondThu, 20 Aug 2015 11:22:00 +0000http://hatcherorthodontics.wordpress.com/?p=603]]>What does a great smile have in common with good physical and mental health? Quite a bit, and at Hatcher Orthodontics we are very aware of the connection. We see people every day who are interested in improving their smiles. There is however, much more to that great smile than meets the eye. The importance of having your teeth and gums in the best dental health possible has a huge impact on your general health. If your teeth do not fit together correctly or you have missing teeth, it is more difficult to chew your food properly and this can affect your digestion and overall health. Not feeling well physically can have quite an effect on your mental health and not feeling well mentally can have an adverse effect on your physical well-being.

Let’s not forget about how that smile makes you feel. At Hatcher Orthodontics, there is nothing more rewarding than to see the smiles of our patients when they get their braces off. Smiles become easy and this is where the mental attitude changes and they are aware of the benefits of a great smile! It is so rewarding to give someone a smile and have one returned. When you are happy and that happiness comes through in a smile, it makes those around you happy and smile. Before you know it, the original smile has become contagious!

No matter your age, having a wonderful smile and feeling good about yourself is of great benefit to your overall well-being. Great smiles and good dental health will last a lifetime and will provide the benefits needed for both your physical and mental health that will also last a lifetime.

Smiling is infectious,
You can catch it like the flu.
Someone smiled at me today,
And I started smiling too.
~ Author Unknown

No. All orthodontists must be licensed to practice, but at this time only 1 in 3 orthodontists have continued on to complete Board Certification. The American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) certification process signifies a unique achievement– a significant step beyond the two to three years of advanced education required for a dentist to become a specialist in orthodontics. The process requires the orthodontist to demonstrate actual accomplishments in patient care with detailed case reports on the treatment provided for a broad range of patient problems. Board certification is a voluntary achievement that all orthodontist do not choose to pursue. In order to become board certified by the ABO, an individual orthodontist is thoroughly interviewed by a highly respected panel of examiners to demonstrate their orthodontic knowledge, clinical skills and judgement.

Why would an orthodontist choose to complete this voluntary certification process?

Successful completion of the examination process demonstrates the orthodontist’s highest commitment to excellence in orthodontics – to both the orthodontic profession and the general public, It represent a commitment by a licensed specialist that he/she has the necessary knowledge base and skills to treat patients to the highest of standards. It exemplifies a practitioner’s commitment to continue to keep abreast of the latest advances in patient care, and to continue to deliver these latest advances to patients. Many orthodontist see it as a demonstration of their dedication to the specialty and the highest level of personal achievement.

So we urge our patients to Experience the Difference with our Board Certified Orthodontist, Dr. Hatcher!

For further information about The American Board of Orthodontics and Board Certification, click on the link below.

Adults have a tendency to put off things. Things such as not using the good china except on holidays, buying tools for that project you never get around to starting, and the list keeps going. However, having the smile you have always wanted should not be one of those things. Your smile says so much about you, and the longer you wait to address the issues you may be having with your teeth, the shorter the time to enjoy having your smile the way you want.

At Hatcher Orthodontics, about 40% of our practice is adults. We see children, young adults, and a lot of older adults. We have even had a few patients in their 80’s. Orthodontic treatment can be necessary at any age and for many different reasons. Younger children can benefit from addressing growth or crowding and spacing issues. With adults, orthodontic treatment can address making space for missing teeth replacement, crowding, or if retainers were not worn after previous treatment. It can also be necessary if hygiene becomes a problem due to crowding or if gums are being worn away due to deep bites. The good news is there are so many different options available for orthodontic treatment now. In the past, it was always metal brackets and/or bands around every tooth. Now there are tiny metal brackets, clear brackets, and Invisalign (a series of removable trays that align teeth).

We treat many adult patients and there is never a charge for the initial consultation. The investment in a great smile is always worth the effort – and most adults only regret not taking the steps toward that great smile sooner.
Remember – The Prime of Your Life can be ANY AGE you want it to be. So if you are waiting for the Prime of Your Life to achieve a Great Smile, the Prime of Your Life is NOW!